National Endowment for the Humanities
A “New English” in Chinua Achebe’s “Things Fall Apart”: A Common Core Exemplar
To examine the “New English” Chinua Achebe uses in Things Fall Apart, readers complete a series of worksheets that ask them to examine similes, proverbs, and African folktales contained in the novel. Individuals explain the meaning...
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Create a Community that Promotes Academic Language
Set your elementary, middle, and high schoolers up for success by implementing a variety of strategies to build academic language.
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The Poetics of Hip Hop
The Bard, Nikki Giovanni, Mos Def? “Sonnet 18,” Ego Tripping,” and “Black on Both Sides”? Sure! It’s the poetics. Class members compare the lyrics, rhythm, and rhyme in classic poetry to hip-hop in a richly detailed resource that...
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"Their Eyes Were Watching God": Folk Speech and Figurative Language
Using or considering using Zora Neale Hurston's Their Eyes Were Watching God? Then this packet is a must for your curriculum library. The examination of how Hurston combines folklore and folk language to create the voice of her...
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Vocabulary and Concept Development
After introducing your class to root words and affixes, present them with this short review and practice opportunity. To start, they share definitions of root words and affixes with their partners. Then, after looking at some affixes and...
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Better Your Vocabulary Instruction
Use the magic squares activity to develop vocabulary and make reviewing target words fun!
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Comma Splices
Ah, the comma splice; somehow it works its way into middle and high schoolers' writing quite often. To start, this worksheet defines comma splice and focuses on the four ways to correct them. For practice, pupils correct the comma...
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Best Websites for English Teachers
Bookmark these grammar, writing, and literature websites to build your teaching arsenal, making life just a little bit easier.
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Adapting the Game Concentration
I love classroom games, and this plan deftly describes how you can use the game Concentration across the curriculum to reinforce skills. I wish I would have thought of this when I was teaching this age level. These kinds of games are...
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Grammar Bytes PowerPoint Presentation: Parallel Structure
When preparing students for standardized tests, this presentation about parallel structure could be a great way to review. Using concrete examples, and providing detailed explanations, students could use this as an independent review.
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Identifying and Using Parallelism and Balance in Literature
Analyze the use of balanced sentences and parallelism in a narrative. Included in this resource is a narrative about serving as a Peace Corps volunteer in Kazakhstan titled, "The Train Ride Home". Middle and high schoolers review...
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Parallel Structure, Exercise 1
Challenge your pupils' writing skills with this two-page worksheet. There are a total of twenty sentences which must be read in order to determine whether or not they contain errors in parallel structure. Note: This worksheet accompanies...
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Parallel Structure, Exercise 3
As the third worksheet in a series about parallel structure, this worksheet continues to challenge students' writing skills. It includes twenty multiple choice questions; students must select the correct phrase to complete each sentence...
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Grammar Bytes - Parallel Structure
The first exercise in a series of worksheets, this handout asks learners to read 10 sets of sentences and choose the one with no errors in structure. Tip: Find all of the worksheets on parallel structure throughout our website and create...
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Parallel Structure Practice
Practice parallel structure with a multiple-choice exercise. Twenty questions challenge learners of all ages to correctly fill in blanks with phrases that are parallel in structure to what is already there. Tip: As noted, this activity...
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Major Regional Dialects
What does your dialect sound like? Examine variation in English as it relates to geographic regions with your class. They recognize some of the major differences between regional dialects and determine that everyone speaks a dialect....
San José State University
Parallelism
What is parallelism? Novice writers learn about parallelism and practice balancing 10 sentences for better syntax and parallel structure. A clear, straightforward worksheet with answers included.
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Commas and Colons and Semicolons? OH MY!
Take a close look at both the definitions and uses of commas, colons, and semicolons. Commas set off clear parts of sentences, colons come before an explanation, and semicolons join two complete thoughts. Review these types of...
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Sustainable Livestock
Students investigate healthy eating habits by researching livestock. In this food sustainability lesson, students research the negative impact factory farming has on our environment due to pollution. Students define agricultural...
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Welcome to the Blogosphere
Create a blog spot for your classroom and promote online discussions. There are several blogging websites listed here, and you can create one specific to each class or one collective site. Teach your learners how to post on the blog, and...
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Pronoun Agreement
Cross your t's, dot your i's to make sure your pronouns are in agreement. This learning exercise provides great practice for identifying incorrectly-used pronouns. In total, there are 10multiple choice problems. Tip: Use this as a...
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Who Am I?
Your budding journalists need to understand the five W's for writing a news story. They read a story, complete several graphic organizers to help them organize and write their article, and then use a self-assessment learning exercise to...
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Commas, Semicolons, and Colons Using Famous Quotes
Ten famous quotes are written on these slides, at first without punctuation. After giving learners a chance to punctuate the quotes, the correct punctuation is shown. Use memorable words to develop long-term grasp of how to use commas,...
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Business English at Work: Verb Tense, Voice and Mood-Verbals
Demonstrate the various tenses of irregular and regular verbs. The verbs be, do, and have are charted out for the present tense, past tense, and past and present participles. Likewise, many regular verbs are conjugated into present,...